Power amplifier insensitive to load impedance changes

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a power amplifier insensitive to load impedance changes. According to the present invention, the power amplifier comprises a power amplification circuit which amplifies an input signal, an output matching circuit connected to an output terminal of the power amplification circuit to perform impedance matching between the power amplification circuit and an antenna load, and a 4-port coupler connected between the output matching circuit and the antenna load.

This is a National Phase Application filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 as anational stage of PCT/KR2010/000733, filed Feb. 5, 2010, and claimspriority from Korean Application No. 10-2010-0006984, filed Jan. 26,2010, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a power amplifier, and moreparticularly, to a power amplifier insensitive to change in loadimpedance.

BACKGROUND ART

A power amplifier used in a transmitter of a mobile terminal is designedand sold so as to obtain optimal performance when antenna load impedanceis specific impedance (e.g., 50 ohms). Referring to FIG. 1 showing acircuit of a general power amplifier, assuming that antenna loadimpedance R_(L) is 50 ohms, a power amplification circuit and an outputmatching circuit are designed. Impedance Z_(LOAD) toward an antenna loadfrom an output terminal of the power amplification circuit (hereinafter,referred to as ‘amplifier load impedance’ to be distinguished from theantenna load impedance) is a major parameter for determining theperformance of the power amplifier, and has important influence onoutput power, efficiency, linearity and the like of the power amplifier.

However, when used in practice, the antenna load impedance of the poweramplifier does not become 50 ohms and is extremely variable depending ona user and ambient environment. The change in the antenna load impedanceresults in change in the amplifier load impedance Z_(LOAD), andtherefore, many problems occurs such as deterioration of the performanceof the power amplifier, an increase in the power consumption of themobile terminal and a reduction in battery lifespan.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

FIG. 2 is a reference view illustrating amplifier load impedanceZ_(LOAD) when antenna load impedance is 50 ohms, which is ideal, andFIG. 3 is a reference view illustrating change in the amplifier loadimpedance Z_(LOAD) when the antenna load impedance is not 50 ohms but istemporarily changed.

FIG. 2 (a) shows an output matching circuit for forming the amplifierload impedance, and FIG. 2 (b) shows a Smith chart representing theantenna load impedance and the amplifier load impedance Z_(LOAD).Referring to FIG. 2 (b), when the antenna load impedance is matched toreference impedance, i.e., when the antenna load impedance is fixed to50 ohms, the amplifier load impedance Z_(LOAD) is fixed to 4 ohms toform a constant load line.

FIG. 3 (a) shows a circuit diagram of a power amplifier in which theantenna load impedance is represented as a variable resistor, and FIG. 3(b) is a Smith chart representing the amplifier load impedance Z_(LOAD)when the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna loadimpedance is changed as 3:1. Referring to FIG. 3 (b), as the VSWR of theantenna load impedance is changed as 3:1, the amplifier load impedanceZ_(LOAD) does not become 4 ohms but is extremely changed from about 1.4to 11 ohms as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Therefore, the performance of thepower amplifier is deteriorated, and the power consumption of a batteryof the mobile terminal is increased.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a poweramplifier in which change in amplifier load impedance Z_(LOAD) isminimized in spite of change in antenna load impedance, whereby it ispossible to prevent deterioration of the performance of the poweramplifier and an increase in the power consumption of a battery of amobile terminal and to maintain constant total radiated power (TRP) in atransmitter of the mobile terminal.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda power amplifier including: a power amplification circuit whichamplifies an input signal; an output matching circuit connected to anoutput terminal of the power amplification circuit to perform impedancematching between the power amplification circuit and an antenna load;and a 4-port coupler connected between the output matching circuit andthe antenna load.

Here, an input port of the 4-port coupler may be connected to the outputmatching circuit, an output port of the 4-port coupler may be connectedto the antenna load, and predetermined impedance elements may berespectively connected to coupled and isolation ports of the 4-portcoupler.

Further, the impedance elements may be determined such that thereflection coefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled and isolationports of the 4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:

$D = {- \frac{\alpha\;\gamma}{\beta}}$$\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = {- \frac{\alpha\;\beta}{\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$wherein α, β and γ have the following relationships with parameters Swhen the impedance of each of the coupled and isolation ports of the4-port coupler is matched to 50 ohms:S21=S12=S34=S43=αS31=S13=S24=S42=βS32=S23=S14=S41=γ.

Furthermore, the impedance elements may be determined such that thereflection coefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled and isolationports of the 4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:

$D = \frac{\beta^{2}}{A}$ $\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = \frac{{\alpha\left( {\alpha^{2} - \beta^{2} - \gamma^{2}} \right)} - {D \cdot \beta \cdot \gamma}}{{\alpha\; D} + {\beta\;\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$wherein A has the following relationship with a reflection coefficient┌_(L) toward the antenna load from the output port of the 4-portcoupler,

${A = \frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}}};$andwherein α, β and γ have the following relationships with parameters Swhen the impedance of each of the coupled and isolation ports of the4-port coupler is matched to 50 ohms:S21=S12=S34=S43=αS31=S13=S24=S42=βS32=S23=S14=S41=γ

Here, the incident signals (a1, a2, a3, a4) and the reflection signals(b1, b2, b3, b4) have the following relationship with unique parametersS of the 4-port coupler:

$\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\{a\; 3} \\{a\; 4}\end{bmatrix}}$

Also, the power amplifier may further comprise a phase adjusting unitfor changing a phase of S21 of the 4-port coupler.

Here, the phase adjusting unit may be a phase shifter coupled betweenthe output matching circuit and the input port of the 4-port coupler.

Here, a phase value of the phase shifter may be set such that aninsertion loss of the 4-port coupler becomes a value close to 1.

In addition, the 4-port coupler may be implemented using a metamaterial.

Here, a phase of S21 of the 4-port coupler may be set such that theinsertion loss of the 4-port coupler becomes a value close to 1, usingthe metamaterial.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a power amplifier including a power amplification circuit whichamplifies an input signal; an output matching circuit connected to anoutput terminal of the power amplification circuit to perform impedancematching between the power amplification circuit and an antenna load; a4-port coupler provided between the output matching circuit and theantenna load; and a phase shifter connected between the output matchingcircuit and an input port of the 4-port coupler.

Here, the input port of the 4-port coupler may be connected to the phaseshifter, an output port of the 4-port coupler may be connected to theantenna load, and predetermined impedance elements may be respectivelyconnected to coupled and isolation ports of the 4-port coupler.

Here, the impedance elements may be determined such that the reflectioncoefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled and isolation ports of the4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:

$D = \frac{\beta^{2}}{A}$ $\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = \frac{{\alpha\left( {\alpha^{2} - \beta^{2} - \gamma^{2}} \right)} - {D \cdot \beta \cdot \gamma}}{{\alpha\; D} + {\beta\;\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$wherein A has the following relationship with a reflection coefficient┌_(L) toward the antenna load from the output port of the 4-portcoupler:

${A = \frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}}};$andwherein α, β and γ have the following relationships with parameters Swhen the impedance of each of the coupled and isolation ports of the4-port coupler is matched to 50 ohms:S21=S12=S34=S43=αS31=S13=S24=S42=βS32=S23=S14=S41=γ.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, change in amplifier load impedanceis minimized using a 4-port coupler despite change in antenna loadimpedance, thereby making it possible to prevent deterioration of theperformance of the power amplifier, to increase in power consumption ofa battery of a mobile terminal, and to maintain constant total radiatedpower (TRP) in a transmitter of the mobile terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a general power amplifier;

FIG. 2 is a reference view illustrating amplifier load impedanceZ_(LOAD) when antenna load impedance is 50 ohms, which is ideal;

FIG. 3 is a reference view illustrating change in the amplifier loadimpedance Z_(LOAD) when the antenna load impedance is not 50 ohms but istemporarily changed;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a power amplifier according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a circuit in which impedance elements are respectivelyconnected to coupled and isolation ports of a 4-port coupler;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a method of determining theimpedance of the impedance elements connected to the respective coupledand isolation ports of the 4-port coupler according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a result obtained by displaying on a Smith chart α, β, γ,B, D, ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT), which are determined according to previouslygiven parameters S of the 4-port coupler;

FIG. 8 shows a simulation result of ┌_(PA) as antenna load impedance ischanged according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a simulation result obtained in consideration of an outputmatching circuit of the power amplifier, based on FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a reference view illustrating a problem that may occur in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a result simulated using ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) obtained byFormula 16 according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a simulation result representing change in ┌_(PA) accordingto the change in impedance of the termination of each of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler, calculated according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a table showing values obtained by calculating insertion loss(IL) of the 4-port coupler according to the change in the antenna loadimpedance when the coupled and isolation ports are terminated accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a circuit diagram showing a state in which a phase shifteris connected between the output matching circuit and the 4-port coupler;

FIG. 15 shows a result obtained by displaying in a Smith chart change in┌_(PA) according to the change in the antenna load impedance when thephase of the phase shifter is set to 60°; and

FIG. 16 is a table showing values obtained by calculating insertion lossof the 4-port coupler according to the change in the antenna loadimpedance when the phase of the phase shifter is set to 60°.

BEST MODE

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein, like componentswill be denoted by like reference numerals throughout the specificationand the drawings. Elaboration of functions or features apparent to thoseskilled in the art will be omitted for clarity of description of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a power amplifier according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

The power amplifier according to this embodiment includes a poweramplification circuit 10 for amplifying an input signal, an outputmatching circuit 20 connected to an output terminal of the poweramplification circuit 10 to perform impedance matching between the poweramplification circuit 10 and an antenna load 40, and a 4-port coupler 30connected between the output matching circuit 20 and the antenna load40.

The 4-port coupler 30 is an RF coupler with four ports and has a firstport that is an input port, a second port that is an output port, athird port that is a coupled port, and a fourth port that is anisolation port. As shown in this figure, the input port is connected tothe output matching circuit 20, and the output port is connected to theantenna load 40. Predetermined impedance elements are respectivelyconnected as terminations to the coupled port and the isolation port.

According to this embodiment, the impedance elements each having anappropriate impedance are connected to the respective coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler 30, so that although antenna loadimpedance is changed, constant output impedance can be obtained as willbe described later.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit in which the impedance elements are connected tothe respective coupled and isolation ports of the 4-port coupler. Theletters ‘a’ and ‘b’ represented for each port designate an incident waveand a reflection wave, respectively. As shown in this figure, an RFsignal a1 is input (or incident) to the input port, and an RF signal b2is output (or transferred) to the output port. In addition to the inputsignal a1 and the output signal b2, a signal b1 that is a reflectionwave of the incident signal a1 and a signal a2 incident to the outputport exist at the input and output ports, respectively. Signals a3 anda4 incident to the ports and signals b3 and b4 reflected from the portsalso exist at the coupled and isolation ports, respectively. Referringto FIG. 5, ┌_(D) a3/b3) denotes a reflection coefficient toward thetermination from the coupled port, and ┌_(CT) (=a4/b4) denotes areflection coefficient toward the termination from the isolation port.

The relationships between the signals a11 to a4 and b1 to b4 areexpressed as shown in the following formula, using unique parameters Sof the 4-port coupler:

$\begin{matrix}{\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\{a\; 3} \\{a\; 4}\end{bmatrix}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

In the case where matching is performed by respectively connectingimpedance elements of 50 ohms to the coupled and isolation ports of the4-port coupler, ┌_(D)=0 and ┌_(CT)=0 (i.e., a3=0 and a4=0), and Formula1 may be expressed as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\0 \\0\end{bmatrix}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$

In this case, the insertion loss (IL) and coupled power (CP) of the4-port coupler are represented as shown in the following formula:

$\begin{matrix}{{{IL} = {\frac{b\; 2}{a\; 1} = {{S\; 21} + {S\; 22\;\frac{a\; 2}{a\; 1}}}}}{{CP} = {\frac{b\; 3}{a\; 1} = {{S\; 31} + {S\; 32{\frac{a\; 3}{a\; 1}.}}}}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 3}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a method of determining theimpedance of the impedance elements connected to the respective coupledand isolation ports of the 4-port coupler 30 according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, ┌_(PA)(=b1/a1) denotes a reflection coefficient at the input port of the4-port coupler 30. Since the input port of the 4-port coupler 30 isconnected to the output matching circuit 20 of the power amplifier asdescribed above, ┌_(PA) (=b1/a1) ultimately denotes change in impedancetoward the antenna load from the power amplifier. ┌_(L) (=a2/b2) denotesa reflection coefficient at the output port of the 4-port coupler 30.Since the output port of the 4-port coupler 30 is connected to theantenna load 40 as described above, ┌_(L) (=a2/b2) denotes change inantenna load impedance.

Formula 1 may be differently expressed as follows:b1=S11·a1+S12·a2+S13·a3+S14·a4b2=S21·a1+S22·a2+S23·a3+S24·a4b3=S31·a1+S32·a2+S33·a3+S34·a4b4=S41·a1+S42·a2+S43·a3+S44·a4  Formula 4

In the case where ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) are not zero, ┌_(L), ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT)are expressed as follows, using the parameters S:

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{1}{\Gamma_{L}} = {\frac{b\; 2}{a\; 2} = {{S\;{21 \cdot \frac{a\; 1}{a\; 2}}} + {S\; 22} + {S\;{23 \cdot \frac{a\; 3}{a\; 2}}} + {S\;{24 \cdot \frac{a\; 4}{a\; 2}}}}}}{\frac{1}{\Gamma_{D}} = {\frac{b\; 3}{a\; 3} = {{S\;{31 \cdot \frac{a\; 1}{a\; 3}}} + {S\;{32 \cdot \frac{a\; 2}{a\; 3}}} + {S\; 33} + {S\;{34 \cdot \frac{a\; 4}{a\; 3}}}}}}{\frac{1}{\Gamma_{CT}} = {\frac{b\; 4}{a\; 4} = {{S\;{41 \cdot \frac{a\; 1}{a\; 4}}} + {S\;{42 \cdot \frac{a\; 2}{a\; 4}}} + {S\;{43 \cdot \frac{a\; 3}{a\; 4}}} + {S\; 44.}}}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 5}\end{matrix}$

For convenience of illustration, the ratios of the signals a2, a3 and a4to the signal a1, i.e., a2/a1, a3/a1 and a4/a1 will be defined as C1, C3and C4, respectively:

$\begin{matrix}{{{C\; 1} = \frac{a\; 2}{a\; 1}}{{C\; 3} = \frac{a\; 3}{a\; 1}}{{C\; 4} = {\frac{a\; 4}{a\; 1}.}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 6}\end{matrix}$

Using Formula 6, Formula 5 is rearranged as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}} = \frac{{S\; 21} + {S\;{23 \cdot C}\; 3} + {S\;{24 \cdot C}\; 4}}{C\; 1}}{\frac{1 - {S\;{33 \cdot \Gamma_{D}}}}{\Gamma_{D}} = \frac{{S\; 31} + {S\;{32 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{34 \cdot C}\; 4}}{C\; 3}}{\frac{1 - {S\;{44 \cdot \Gamma_{CT}}}}{\Gamma_{CT}} = {\frac{{S\; 41} + {S\;{42 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{43 \cdot C}\; 3}}{C\; 4}.}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 7}\end{matrix}$

Assuming that the 4-port coupler is reciprocal, in the case where eachof the coupled and isolation ports are matched to 50 ohms, the followingformula is established between parameters S of the 4-port coupler:S21=S12=S34=S43=αS31=S13=S24=S42=βS32=S23=S14=S41=γ.  Formula 8

The left side of Formula 7 will be defined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}} = A}{\frac{{1 - {S\; 33}}{\cdot \Gamma_{D}}}{\Gamma_{D}} = B}{\frac{1 - {S\;{44 \cdot \Gamma_{CT}}}}{\Gamma_{CT}} = {D.}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 9}\end{matrix}$

As defined in Formula 9, the variable A denotes change in the antennaload impedance, the variable B denotes a reflection coefficient at thecoupled port, and the variable D denotes a reflection coefficient at theisolation port. Using A, B and D, Formula 7 is expressed as follows:C1·A=α+γ·C3+β·C4C3·B=β+γ·C1+α·C4C4·D=γ+β·C1+α·C3  Formula 10

If C1, C3 and C4 are expressed as numerators and denominators as shownin Formula 11 and Formula 10 is then rearranged with respect to C1, C3and C4, their solutions may be obtained as shown in Formula 12:

$\begin{matrix}{{{C\; 1} = \frac{C1\_ num}{C1\_ den}}{{C\; 3} = \frac{C3\_ num}{C3\_ den}}{{C\; 4} = \frac{C4\_ num}{C4\_ den}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 11}\end{matrix}$andC1_num=B(αBD−α ³ +βγD+αγ ²+αβ² +βγB)C1_den=(AB−γ ²)(BD−α ²)−(βB+αγ)²C3_num=D(βAD−β ³ +αγA+βγ ²+α² β+αγD)C3_den=(BD−α ²)(AD−β ²)−(γD+αβ)²C4_num=A(γAB−γ ³ +αβB+β ²γ+α² γ+αβA)C4_den=(AD−β ²)(AB−γ ²)−(αA+βγ)².  Formula 12

In Formula 9, ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) are parameters which can be designeddepending on the impedances of the terminations of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler. To keep the amplifier loadimpedance Z_(LOAD) constant, ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) are appropriately adjustedso that although ┌_(L) (or the variable A) representing the change inthe antenna load impedance is changed, ┌_(PA) representing the impedancetoward the antenna load from the power amplifier is not changed. Theadjustment of ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) is the same as the determination of B andD capable of minimizing C1, C3 and C4.

One of these solutions satisfies the following Formulae 13 and 14:

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{{\partial C}\; 1}{\partial A} = {{0=={\text{>}\mspace{11mu}{B \cdot D}}} = {\alpha^{2}\mspace{14mu}{and}}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 13} \\{\frac{{\partial C}\; 3}{\partial A} = {{0=={{\text{>}\mspace{11mu}{B \cdot D}} + {\alpha\;\gamma}}} = 0.}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 14}\end{matrix}$

If Formulae 13 and 14 are solved, the following solutions may beobtained:

$\begin{matrix}{D = {- \frac{\alpha\;\gamma}{\beta}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 15} \\{\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}} & \; \\{B = {- \frac{\alpha\;\beta}{\gamma}}} & \; \\{\Gamma_{CT} = {\frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}.}} & \;\end{matrix}$

If the terminations of the coupled and isolation ports of the 4-portcoupler satisfy Formula 15, constant output impedance can be obtained inspite of change in the load impedance.

FIG. 7 shows a result obtained by displaying on a Smith chart α, β and γdetermined according to the previously given parameters S of the 4-portcoupler, and B, D, ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) calculated by Formula 15, at 1.950GHz.

Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined that ┌_(D)=0.047+j0.764 and┌_(CT)=0.035+j1.319. In this case, the impedance Z_(D) of thetermination of the coupled port is 12.34+j45.47, and the impedanceZ_(CT) of the termination of the isolation port is −13.19+j46.92. Thetermination of each port may include a negative resistance so as todetermine each of ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) as a desired value. The negativeresistance may be implemented using a well-known circuit technique usinga transistor or the like.

FIG. 8 show a simulation result of ┌_(PA) as the antenna load impedanceis changed when the impedance Z_(D) of the termination of the coupledport is 12.34+j45.47, and the impedance Z_(CT) of the termination of theisolation port is −13.19+j46.92 as determined in FIG. 7. Referring toFIG. 8, the points designated by squares represent changes in theantenna load impedance ┌_(L), and the point designated by a circlerepresents impedance ┌_(PA) toward the antenna load from the input portof the 4-port coupler. The points designated by crosses as comparativeobjects represent impedance ┌_(PA) when the impedance of the terminationof each of the coupled and isolation ports is matched to 50 ohms. Asshown in this figure, in the case where the impedance of the terminationof the 4-port coupler is matched to 50 ohms, the output impedance isextremely changed as the antenna load impedance is changed. However, inthe case where the impedance of the termination of the 4-port coupler ismatched to the impedance of the termination, calculated in FIG. 7, theoutput impedance is maintained to be a constant value of 50 ohms.

FIG. 9 shows a simulation result obtained in consideration of the outputmatching circuit 20 of the power amplifier, based on FIG. 8. Referringto FIG. 9, a circuit is shown in which a transmission line (of which thecharacteristic impedance is 13.2 ohms and the electrical length is 90°)that allows the output impedance to be 4 ohms when it is ideal as anequivalent element of the output matching circuit 20 is connected to theinput port of the 4-port coupler. The simulation result of impedance┌_(PA) toward the antenna load 40 from the output terminal of the poweramplification circuit 10 using the circuit shown in this figure is shownas the point designated by a circle. The points designated by trianglesas comparable objects represent impedance ┌_(PA) when the impedance ofthe termination of each of the coupled and isolation ports is matched to50 ohms. As such, in the case where the output matching circuit 20 isconsidered, the impedance toward the antenna load 40 from the outputterminal of the power amplification circuit 10 is maintained as aconstant value of 4 ohms, so that although the antenna load impedance ischanged, the characteristics of the power amplifier are maintainedconstant. Thus, the entire power consumption of the battery ismaintained constant.

FIG. 10 is a reference view illustrating a problem that may occur in thefirst embodiment described above.

As described above, in the first embodiment, ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) aredetermined using Formula 15, and termination values of the coupled andisolation ports according to the determined ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) areobtained. Here, a phenomenon occurring when an actually implementedtermination value is slightly deviated from the exact value obtained bycalculation will be described. For example, it is assumed that, as shownin this figure, the resistance of −27.013 ohms in the impedance of−27.013+j41.926 corresponding to ┌_(CT) is slightly changed to −26 ohms.Unlike the circuit shown in FIG. 8, the simulation result obtained bysetting the resistance to −26 ohms is shown in FIG. 10. Referring to theSmith chart on the right side of FIG. 10, the case where the resistanceis an exact value is represented as the point designated by a circle(“calculated ┌_(PA)” in the center), and the case where the resistanceis slightly changed into −26 ohms is presented as the points designatedby triangles (“changed ┌_(PA)”). As such, it can be seen that althoughthe resistance is slightly changed, the change in the output impedanceis somewhat serious. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, thereis no problem when terminating the coupled and isolation ports as exactvalues, but there may be a problem in that a desired characteristiccannot be obtained when an error occurs in the value of an actuallyimplemented impedance element.

Hereinafter, to solve such a problem, a method of determining theimpedance of an impedance element connected to each of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler 30 according to a secondembodiment will be described.

As another solution of Formula 12, the solution satisfying the conditionof Formula 16 is obtained as shown in Formula 17:

$\begin{matrix}{{C1\_ num} = {{{0\&}\mspace{11mu}{C3\_ den}} = {\max\mspace{14mu}{and}}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 16} \\{D = \frac{\beta^{2}}{A}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 17} \\{\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}} & \; \\{B = \frac{{\alpha\left( {\alpha^{2} - \beta^{2} - \gamma^{2}} \right)} - {D \cdot \beta \cdot \gamma}}{{\alpha\; D} + {\beta\;\gamma}}} & \; \\{\Gamma_{CT} = {\frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}.}} & \;\end{matrix}$

FIG. 11 shows a result simulated using ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) obtained byFormula 16 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, it is determined that ┌_(D)=−0.026+j0.032, and┌_(CT) is ┌_(CT)=−9.04+j6.56 that is one of several available values. Inthis case, as shown in FIG. 11, the impedance of 50 ohms is not exactlyimplemented as in the first embodiment, but the constant impedance orreflection coefficient is obtained although the antenna load is changedwhile being matched to impedance in the vicinity of 50 ohms.

FIG. 12 shows a simulation result obtained in consideration of an outputmatching circuit of the power amplifier, based on FIG. 11. Referring toFIG. 12, a circuit is shown in which a transmission line (of which thecharacteristic impedance is 13.2 ohms and the electrical length is 90°)that allows the output impedance to be 4 ohms when it is ideal as anequivalent element of the output matching circuit is connected to theinput port of the 4-port coupler.

FIG. 12 (a) shows a simulation result of the impedance ┌_(PA) toward theantenna load 40 from the output terminal of the power amplificationcircuit 10 when the inductance and resistance of the inductor andresistor connected to the isolation port are 0.01 nH and −42 ohms,respectively, and the inductance and resistance of the inductor andresistor connected to the coupled port are 3.16 nH and 24.5 ohms,respectively. FIG. 12 (b) shows a simulation result of the impedance┌_(PA) toward the antenna load 40 from the output terminal of the poweramplification circuit 10 when the inductance and resistance of theinductor and resistor connected to the isolation port are 0.5 nH and −48ohms, respectively, and the inductance and resistance of the inductorand resistor connected to the coupled port are 0.16 nH and 45.9 ohms,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 12, it can be seen that the impedance (the pointsdesignated by circles) toward the antenna load 40 from the outputterminal of the power amplification circuit 10 does not have a constantvalue when the antenna load impedance (the points designated by squares)is changed, but is changed in a smaller range. The points designated bystars as comparative objects represent change in impedance when theimpedance of the termination of each of the coupled and isolation portsis matched to 50 ohms.

However, additional items in actual implementation are necessarilyconsidered in the second embodiment. Referring back to FIG. 6, theoutput impedance ┌_(PA) toward the antenna load from the output terminalof the power amplification circuit 10 in the power amplifier and theentire insertion loss (IL) of the 4-port coupler proposed in the presentinvention may be ideally expressed as shown in the following formula:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{\Gamma_{PA} = \frac{b\; 1}{a\; 1}} \\{= {{{S\; 11} + {S\;{12 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{13 \cdot C}\; 3} + {S\;{14 \cdot C}\; 4}} \approx {S\; 11}}} \\{{IL} = \frac{b\; 2}{a\; 1}} \\{= {{{S\; 21} + {S\;{22 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{23 \cdot C}\; 3} + {S\;{24 \cdot C}\; 4}} \approx {S\; 21.}}}\end{matrix} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 18}\end{matrix}$

This is because the first and second embodiments have an object tominimize the C1, C3 and C4, and therefore, C1≈0, C3≈0 and C4≈0.

FIG. 13 is a table showing values obtained by calculating insertion loss(IL) of the 4-port coupler according to the change in the antenna loadimpedance when the coupled and isolation ports are terminated accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13, SP1.C1,SP1.C3 and SP1.C4 respectively mean C1, C3 and C4 calculated accordingto the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, it can be seen that C1and C3 have relatively small values but C4 has a considerably largevalue. Since all of C1, C3 and C4 calculated according to the secondembodiment are not small at the same time, the insertion loss (IL) isalmost zero as shown in FIG. 13, which means that the input power of the4-port coupler is entirely lost or reflected, and therefore, power isnot transferred to the output of the 4-port coupler, i.e., the antenna.The reason will be described below.

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{\Gamma_{PA} = \frac{b\; 1}{a\; 1}} \\{= {{{S\; 11} + {S\;{12 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{13 \cdot C}\; 3} + {S\;{14 \cdot C}\; 4}} \approx}} \\{{S\; 11} + {S\;{14 \cdot C}\; 4}} \\{{IL} = \frac{b\; 2}{a\; 1}} \\{= {{{S\; 21} + {S\;{22 \cdot C}\; 1} + {S\;{23 \cdot C}\; 4} + {S\;{24 \cdot C}\; 4}} \approx}} \\{{S\; 21} + {S\;{24 \cdot C}\; 4.}}\end{matrix} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 19}\end{matrix}$

In Formula 19, it is satisfied that C1≈0 and C3≈0, but C4 does notbecome zero. Therefore, only the term S21 must exist in the insertionloss (IL). However, since C4 is not zero as shown in Formula 20, theinsertion loss (IL) has almost zero.IL=S21+S24·C4≈0  Formula 20

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the phase ofS21 of the 4-port coupler is appropriately adjusted so that theinsertion loss (IL) does not become zero but has a value close to 1.Thus, it is possible to solve the problem that the output power is nottransferred through the 4-port coupler.

A method of adding a phase adjusting unit such as a phase shifter to theinput port of the 4-port coupler is used as one method of adjusting thephase of S21 of the 4-port coupler.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a state in which a phase shifter isconnected between the output matching circuit 20 (not shown in FIG. 14)and the input port of the 4-port coupler 30. That is, the phase shifteris connected between the output terminal of the output matching circuit20 (not shown in FIG. 14) and the input port of the 4-port coupler 30.

FIG. 15 shows a simulation result of ┌_(PA) when the phase of the phaseshifter is set to 60°. The appropriated phase value adjusted so that theinsertion loss (IL) of the 4-port coupler does not become zero but has avalue close to 1 may be obtained using a general simulation tool.

Referring to FIG. 15, the output impedance ┌_(PA) (the points designatedby circles) toward the antenna load from the input port of the 4-portcoupler is changed in a small range in the vicinity of 50 ohms, in spiteof the change in the antenna load impedance ┌_(L) (the points designatedby squares). In the case where an ideal transmission line (of which thecharacteristic impedance is 13.2 ohms and the electrical length is 90°)is connected to the input port of the 4-port coupler as the outputmatching circuit, the impedance ┌_(PA) (the points designated bycrosses) toward the antenna load 40 from the output terminal of thepower amplification circuit 10 is changed in a very small range. Thus,it can be seen that according to the third embodiment, the constantamplifier load impedance can be obtained in spite of the change in theantenna load impedance.

FIG. 16 is a table showing values obtained by calculating insertion loss(IL) of the 4-port coupler according to the change in the antenna loadimpedance when the phase of the phase shifter is set to 60°. Referringto FIG. 16, it can be seen that the insertion loss is almost 1, whichmeans that almost all of the power amplified in the power amplifier istransferred to the antenna load.

A method of adjusting the phase of S21 of the 4-port coupler itself to adesired value by implementing the 4-port coupler using a metamaterial isused as another method of adjusting the phase of S21. In this case, aseparate phase adjusting unit is not required. That is, the phase of S21of the 4-port coupler may be set such that the insertion loss becomes avalue close to 1, using the metamaterial.

Furthermore, a circuit may be implemented, in which change in antennaload impedance is detected to feed back the detected change to a 4-portcoupler and a phase adjusting unit, and output impedance adaptivelyconstant to the change in the antenna load impedance is maintained byadjusting the characteristic of the 4-port coupler and the phase valueof the phase adjusting unit. Such a circuit will be called an impedancelocked loop (ILL).

Some exemplary embodiments have been described above. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various modifications,variations and alterations can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. Therefore, these embodiments areprovided for illustration only and should not be construed as limitingthe present invention. The scope of the present invention should beinterpreted according to the following appended claims as covering allmodifications or variations derived from the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A power amplifier comprising: a poweramplification circuit which amplifies an input signal; an outputmatching circuit connected to an output terminal of the poweramplification circuit configured to perform impedance matching betweenthe power amplification circuit and an antenna load; and a 4-portcoupler connected between the output matching circuit and the antennaload, the 4-port coupler comprising: an input port having a reflectioncoefficient ┌_(PA) based on an incident signal a1 and a reflectionsignal b1, an output port having a reflection coefficient ┌_(L) based onan incident signal a2 and a reflection signal b2, a coupled port havinga reflection coefficient ┌_(D) based on an incident signal a3 and areflection signal b3, and an isolation port having a reflectioncoefficient ┌_(CT) based on an incident signal a4 and a reflectionsignal b4, wherein the reflection coefficient ┌_(D) and the reflectioncoefficient ┌_(CT) are determined so that the reflection coefficient┌_(PA) is not changed when ┌_(L) is changed.
 2. The power amplifieraccording to claim 1, wherein the input port of the 4-port coupler isconnected to the output matching circuit, the output port of the 4-portcoupler is connected to the antenna load, and predetermined impedanceelements are respectively connected to the coupled and the isolationports of the 4-port coupler.
 3. The power amplifier according to claim2, wherein the incident signals (a1, a2, a3, a4) and the reflectionsignals (b1, b2, b3, b4) have the following relationship with uniqueparameters S of the 4-port coupler: ${\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\{a\; 3} \\{a\; 4}\end{bmatrix}}},$ wherein the impedance elements are determined suchthat the reflection coefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:$D = {- \frac{\alpha\gamma}{\beta}}$$\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = {- \frac{\alpha\beta}{\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$ wherein α, β and γ have thefollowing relationships with parameters S when the impedance of each ofthe coupled and isolation ports of the 4-port coupler is matched to 50ohms:S21=S12=S34=S43=αS31=S13=S24=S42=βS32=S23=S14=S41=γ.
 4. The power amplifier according to claim 2, whereinthe incident signals (a1, a2, a3, a4) and the reflection signals (b1,b2, b3, b4) have the following relationship with unique parameters S ofthe 4-port coupler: ${\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\{a\; 3} \\{a\; 4}\end{bmatrix}}},$ wherein the impedance elements are determined suchthat the reflection coefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:$D = \frac{\beta^{2}}{A}$ $\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = \frac{{\alpha\left( {\alpha^{2} - \beta^{2} - \gamma^{2}} \right)} - {D \cdot \beta \cdot \gamma}}{{\alpha\; D} + {\beta\;\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$ wherein A has the followingrelationship with a reflection coefficient ┌_(L) toward the antenna loadfrom the output port of the 4-port coupler:${A = \frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}}};$ and whereinα, β and γ have the following relationships with parameters S when theimpedance of each of the coupled and isolation ports of the 4-portcoupler is matched to 50 ohms:S21=S12=S34=S43≦αS31=S13=S24=S42≦βS32=S23=S14=S41≦γ.
 5. The power amplifier according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a phase adjusting unit for changing a phase of S21 of the4-port coupler.
 6. The power amplifier according to claim 5, wherein thephase adjusting unit is a phase shifter coupled between the outputmatching circuit and the input port of the 4-port coupler.
 7. The poweramplifier according to claim 6, wherein a phase value of the phaseshifter is set such that an insertion loss of the 4-port coupler becomesa value close to
 1. 8. The power amplifier according to claim 1, whereinthe 4-port coupler is implemented using a metamaterial.
 9. The poweramplifier according to claim 4, wherein a phase of S21 of the 4-portcoupler is set such that the insertion loss of the 4-port couplerbecomes a value close to 1, using a metamaterial.
 10. A power amplifiercomprising: a power amplification circuit which amplifies an inputsignal; an output matching circuit connected to an output terminal ofthe power amplification circuit to perform impedance matching betweenthe power amplification circuit and an antenna load; a 4-port couplerprovided between the output matching circuit and the antenna load; and aphase shifter connected between the output matching circuit and an inputport of the 4-port coupler.
 11. The power amplifier according to claim10, wherein the input port of the 4-port coupler is connected to thephase shifter, an output port of the 4-port coupler is connected to theantenna load, and predetermined impedance elements are respectivelyconnected to coupled and isolation ports of the 4-port coupler.
 12. Thepower amplifier according to claim 11, wherein the input port has areflection coefficient ┌_(PA) based on an incident signal a1 and areflection signal b1, the output port has a reflection coefficient ┌_(L)based on an incident signal a2 and a reflection signal b2, a coupledport of the 4-port coupler has a reflection coefficient ┌_(D) based onan incident signal a3 and a reflection signal b3, and an isolation portof the 4-poprt coupler has a reflection coefficient ┌_(CT) based on anincident signal a4 and a reflection signal b4, wherein the incidentsignals (a1, a2, a3, a4) and the reflection signals (b1, b2, b3, b4)have the following relationship with unique parameters S of the 4-portcoupler: ${\begin{bmatrix}{b\; 1} \\{b\; 2} \\{b\; 3} \\{b\; 4}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{S\; 11} & {S\; 12} & {S\; 13} & {S\; 14} \\{S\; 21} & {S\; 22} & {S\; 23} & {S\; 24} \\{S\; 31} & {S\; 32} & {S\; 33} & {S\; 34} \\{S\; 41} & {S\; 42} & {S\; 43} & {S\; 44}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{a\; 1} \\{a\; 2} \\{a\; 3} \\{a\; 4}\end{bmatrix}}},$ wherein the impedance elements are determined suchthat the reflection coefficients ┌_(D) and ┌_(CT) of the coupled andisolation ports of the 4-port coupler satisfy the following formula:$D = \frac{\beta^{2}}{A}$ $\Gamma_{D} = \frac{1}{B + {S\; 33}}$$B = \frac{{\alpha\left( {\alpha^{2} - \beta^{2} - \gamma^{2}} \right)} - {D \cdot \beta \cdot \gamma}}{{\alpha\; D} + {\beta\;\gamma}}$${\Gamma_{CT} = \frac{1}{D + {S\; 44}}},$ wherein A has the followingrelationship with a reflection coefficient ┌_(L) toward the antenna loadfrom the output port of the 4-port coupler:${A = \frac{1 - {S\;{22 \cdot \Gamma_{L}}}}{\Gamma_{L}}};$ and whereinα, β and γ have the following relationships with parameters S when theimpedance of each of the coupled and isolation ports of the 4-portcoupler is matched to 50 ohms,S21=S12=S34=S43≦αS31=S13=S24=S42≦βS32=S23=S14=S41≦γ.